Hull FC will need to bounce back mentally after Wigan loss, says Lee Radford
Last Updated: 24/07/15 12:17am
Hull FC coach Lee Radford said his side will have to bounce back mentally after losing 48-12 to Wigan.
Hull FC secured their place in the top eight last weekend with a fantastic win at their fierce rivals Hull KR and were determined to build on that by pushing for a top four spot.
However they were brought crashing down to earth as Wigan ran in eight tries to totally outclass Radford’s men.
"We spoke all week about making a push for the top four and not just being in the Super 8s to just make up the numbers," Radford told Sky Sports.
"But it can’t be lip service, it has to be backed up by performance and individually there were one or two performances out there that were nowhere near the standard they were last week.
"It looked like last week was our Grand Final and we said we did not want that to happen. We have a week off and we need to regroup and get right mentally.
"Wigan looked like a top four side tonight and we were nowhere near it."
Already without former internationals Gareth Ellis and Leon Pryce, Hull suffered another injury blow when prop Josh Bowden went off with an ankle problem halfway through the first half.
And Radford confirmed that Pryce, like Ellis, will not play again this season after suffering a torn rotator cuff in the Hull derby.
"He's gone for the year," Radford said. "He'll have an operation next Tuesday."
Ruthless
Wigan coach Shaun Wane was delighted with his side's performance and said it was their best performance of the year.
"I am happier today than I have been with any game this year," said Wane on Sky Sports. "We did a lot of things that we have been trying in training and we got some success from it.
"I know Hull were busted - and Lee Radford is a good coach and they are a strong team which makes this win even more satisfying.
"We were ruthless at times and I think we played some really good rugby league. I am going to enjoy my red wine tonight and enjoy my weekend."